Individual Consultant: Senior Software Developer

Hiring Office: UNFPA Malawi

Duration: 8 months

Purpose of Consultancy

The National Statistical Office (NSO) conducted the decennial Population and Housing Census in September 2018 with the support of a trust fund contributed by Germany, Norway, Iceland and DFID and managed by UNFPA. The trust fund has been supporting the enumeration and dissemination phases of the Census as per the project document. The processing of the data and the release of the array of census reports started in 2019 by publishing a preliminary data and a main report.  17 thematic reports were developed and the final quality check and editing are in progress.

In 2020, UNFPA is supposed to support the dissemination of the data produced by the Census by developing a dissemination platform that can also host MASEDA data on top of a large set of the Census Data. NSO indicated the need to revive the Malawi Socio Economic Data Base (MASEDA) – a digital dissemination tool based on DevInfo.  Since DevInfo is no longer supported it was decided to do the required customisation on an existing platform to meet the requirements of NSO. 

Recently UNFPA has completed the procurement of software and a set of ICT equipment. Therefore, UNFPA needs to recruit a set of consultants including a project manager to immediately begin the development of the platform meeting needs of NSO in order to successfully launch the platform by 4th Quarter of the year.  

The final deliverable will be a customized Census Data Module that incorporates the functionality of MASEDA combined with the modern interactive dissemination features of Hexagon Smart Census Dissemination Platform.

Scope of Work

The consultant will operate as part of a team of consultants consisting of Software Developers; GIS Specialists and Trainers that will execute their services under the supervision of a Project Manager. Refer to the attached workplan for the total project.

The detailed tasks allocated to the Senior Software Developer, based on the detailed workplan as per main activities with associated task breakdown are as follows:

1. HxGN Smart Census/MASEDA project scoping and initiation – 6 days

1.1 Data analysis
Indicator analysis - Analysis and definition of indicator data model (data model allows for indicators to have different classification types)

1.2 Database and data model creation
Creation of Area data model according to country administrative units (AU)

2. HxGN Smart Census / MASEDA development, integration and configuration – 167 days

2.1 Administration console and functionality setup and configuration- 19 days
•    Indicator import and export functionality setup and configuration - Import from predefined structure from CSV - Export to CSV to predefined structure from subsets
•    Areas - Mapping between Smart Census AU and Dissemination Units - • Setup and configure Smart Census Import tool to define the same Unique Identifiers for AU's and Dissemination Unit Unique Identifiers

2.2 User Interface functionality setup and configuration- 148 days
User-specific Front-end development – 2 days
User-specific Front-end development for Mobile Dissemination Application – 1 day
Setup and configuration of Web Browser Template Mainframe + style – 15 days
Setup and configuration Mobile Browser Template Mainframe + style – 10 days
Setup and configuration Mobile Dissemination application Template Mainframe + style – 4 days
Indicator configuration and setup – 19 Days
•    Indicator display creation and setup - display in List View/Tree 
•    View according to classification types
•    Indicator display creation and setup - Search Function
•    Indicator display creation and setup - Multiple selection
•    Mobile Dissemination application display, search, selection
Spatial Area selection (AU) - 17 Days
•    Smart Census integration - existing AU with selection by level
•    Search Function
•    Multiple AU selection only from the selected level
•    AU selection/filtering according to indicator type
•    Mobile Dissemination application AU selection, Search, filtering
Display results as table with facilities for: - 13 Days
•    Filtering using: year, indicator type, source, AU
•    User defined Sorting
•    Grouping and aggregating
•    Export as CSV
Display results as thematic map with facilities for: - 24 Days
•    Filtering using: indicator type, year
•    Color based on indicator value
•    Tooltips and tables
•    Geometry simplification process
•    Mobile Dissemination application results as thematic map
•    Mobile Dissemination application sharing results via social media
Display results as charts with facilities for: - 43 Days
•    Export as png/jpeg
•    Tool that allows to define pie/bar/line charts using indicator type / year/ AU
•    Timeline Control
•    Mobile Dissemination application results as charts using infographics
•    Mobile Dissemination application sharing results via social media

3. HxGN Smart Census / MASEDA 2019 Installation- 2 days
Integrate with M.App Enterprise Security for tool to be available as M.App

4. HxGN Smart Census/ MASEDA 2019 Training- 10 days
•    Creation of manuals and documentation
•    Creation of videos

Expected outputs of the consultancy are:
The consultant’s work will contribute to the overall customization of the Hexagon Smart Census Dissemination platform to incorporate MASEDA functionality in an application for WEB as well as mobile. 

Expected outputs: 
Key outputs for the consultant are as follows:
•    Data model
•    Database
•    Existing data imported into Database
•    Data import tool
•    User Front-end – web browser
•    User Front-end - Mobile
•    Web browser and mobile back end as per specifications

Duration and working schedule

The consultancy is for a total period 185 days starting on date of signature for a period of 8 months.

The detailed allocation of tasks and activities to the consultant and the coordination of the work between the different consultants will be one by the PM.

Place where services are to be delivered

Home-based

Delivery dates and how work will be delivered

The consultant is expected to deliver according to the roadmap developed. Refer to tasks and activities and time schedule in detailed implementation plan. 

Consultant will submit a statement of compliance to confirm completion of each task with a project manager.

Monitoring and Progress Control

Based on the compliance report submitted by the consultant, the PM will submit, on a monthly basis, a statement confirming current status of the consultant’s work including the days worked. The payment will be tied with a set of milestones certified by the PM. 

The consultant must provide in softcopy the work required to achieve the following milestones, complimented by a statement of compliance:

Milestone 1: 
Data model developed;
Database designed, developed and populated. 
Administration console and functionality setup and configuration completed

Milestone 2:
User Interface functionality development, setup and configuration: WEB Application completed

Milestone 3:
User Interface functionality development, setup and configuration: Mobile Application completed

Milestone 4:
Application completed and ready for testing, installation and training inputs to materials provided.

At the end of the contract the consultant shall submit a statement confirming successful completion of all tasks. Where applicable supporting documentation must be provided.

Supervisory arrangements

The consultant will be directly supervised by a Project Manager who will work under the direct supervision of the Population and Development Specialist while the Representative and Deputy Representative will oversee overall progress.  

Expected travel

No travel for time being due to COVID 19.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Minimum of a Master’s degree in Computer Science, Information and Technology, Statistics, Software Engineering
• Minimum 10 years’ experience
• Experience in Hexagon Geospatial suite of products, in particular Hexagon Smart Census
• Experience in census and census related projects
• Experience in designing, developing deploying and testing software solutions, experience in an application development team.
• Experience in development in database environment such as Microsoft SQL Server, oriented database application.
• Solid knowledge of and object oriented software design patterns.
• Proficient in software development. 
• Solid knowledge on distributed, highly available and massively scalable system design.

Inputs / services to be provided by UNFPA or implementing partner

Policy guidance, Necessary documentation

Other relevant information or special conditions

The consultant will be paid according to the detailed payment schedule that will be attached to the implementation plan. 

How to Apply:

• Candidates who have the required/relevant qualifications and experience should submit the applications with a detailed Curriculum Vitae (CV), motivational letter, P11 (https://www.unfpa.org/resources/p11-un-personal-history-form) with a copy of qualifications to the following address: recruitment.malawi@unfpa.org. Please specify in the email subject ‘Consultant-Senior Software Developer’. Applications should be received on or before Tuesday, 12th May 2020.
• UNFPA will only respond to those applicants in whom the Country Office has further interest.
• UNFPA does not solicit or screen for information in respect of HIV or AIDS and does not discriminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS status.
• UNFPA is committed to maintain balanced gender distribution of the positions and therefore encourage women to apply. 
• Interested applicants should first register on the UNFPA Consultancy Roster and apply to the “job post” called UNFPA Consultant Roster. After registering on the Roster, Click ‘Apply Now’. In case you have applied for UNFPA eRecruitment Jobs before, directly click ‘Apply Now’

IMPORTANT: There are NO application processing or other fees at any stage of UNFPA application processes.